On September 9, 2007 we lined up for the 1600 so it wasn't a full mile, which is 1609. Still, in my mind, it's a mile. Knowing Dean though, and the "mile" in the title, it probably did start the 9 meters back and I can't remember.

There was a large group of us. The runners gathered around the starting line, the families and the timers stood off to the side by the start. The anticipation of the first official race was high. Would I capture the Arizona Female record? There were only 3 females running and I thought I was faster than the other two women.

4 laps around the track.
Piece of cake.
Well with one small exception.

On your marks.
Set.
Go.

Pop!
Fizz!
Around me the beer cans opened and the runners started guzzling. I had chosen Blue Moon as my beer and it unfortunately was in a bottle and I was second guessing my choice of beer. Should I have went with a can? Around me people starting burping. Loudly. I wasn't expecting the burping contest and was very grossed out. About 10 seconds after the starting gun, the runner next to me threw down his can and was off running. Darn. I wasn't even halfway through my beer.

I dislike beer. No, I mean I really can't stand the stuff. I never acquired a taste for it but did have the occasional beer when it was 25 cents ladies night. Now, being older and wiser and past ladies nights, I'll take a sip to see if maybe this will be the beer I like. Nope. Still don't like beer.

So what was I doing out at the track? Drinking a beer? If was the first official beer mile in Arizona and according to www.beermile.com, it is still the only official beer mile race in Arizona. The others have all been unofficial.

Here's an overview of the rules:

Must be beer

Must be greater than 5% alcohol content

Drink a beer, run a lap. Repeat 3 times.

If you spew, you must run an extra lap.

Being the non-drinker and serious about wanting to win the Arizona female record, I needed to do some research. Sitting at a bar, I asked the bartender to try a couple beers. The ones I could stomach were too low in alcohol content and I would be disqualified. Not having enough of the beer, I stopped on the way home and bought beer from a convenience store. A 6 pack of Blue Moon and a case (!) of Natural Ice. Both highly recommended. I sampled both on different nights. When it came down to it, it didn't matter, they all tasted horrible and now I had all this beer in the house. I chose Blue Moon, arranged my designated driver and wondered what the heck I was doing.

I managed to get the first beer down and not only was I grossed out by the burping at the start, but the runners were burping grossly while they were running too. Ugh, if I wasn't going to throw up before all this was over. I finished my lap, opened up my next beer and started guzzling. Well maybe sipping is more like it. I finished the beer and ran the 2nd lap. Next beer.... surrounded by all the burping, I started gagging. There was no way I could drink another 2 beers. The state record would have to go to someone more deserving. Someone who could handle their beer. Standing by the garbage can I admitted my defeat and claimed my first (and so far only) DNF.

Since it was the first offical race in Arizona I do hold the title of first DNF in the beer mile in both the male and female category. And no one can ever take that away from me. My brother, after finishing his 3rd beer, joined me in the DNF ranks.

OMG! That is sooo funny! I love a good beer though, might have to find one of those races around here!I havne't had a DNF, but I have had a DNS - got all the way to the starting line and I knew that the injury I had been nursing all week was not going to fair well if I ran the half mary. So, I jumped out of the corals, found my fam and cheered for the rest of the racers instad. It's hard to be an adult sometimes! Great topic and story! Thanks for sharing!

Ha! That is one of the funniest things I have ever heard! There is a donut run in the town I went to college in - the more donuts you eat, the more time they take off your score. I never ran it, but your story reminds me of it.

I have not had a DNF. Well, unless you count three races I was signed up for, two I did not run because I was injured, and the third I could not afford to travel to.

Gross! I HATE beer so I would have had a DNF for sure! There's a California Beer Mile in San Diego this weekend and they just announced it at track tonight and I almost threw up...just thinking about it makes me sick!! I loved your story!Fun blog!

My DNF came at the worst time, Comrades Ultra Marathon 2010. Man I trained for this race, qualified and on race day felt hundreds, race started and all of a sudden I became violently ill, several trips to the bush and this resulted in missing the halfway cut off (44.5 km) which took me out of the race.

About Me

I'm passionate about running, photography, stamping, scrapbooking, gardening, reading. I love connecting with people but don't consider myself a people person. I'd love to hear from you.
From the label of Lazy Bones Cabernet Franc wine...I don't care if you call me Lazy Bones. I love to lounge away the day alone. Why mix with others when being myself is beautiful?